Here's why you should never trust hypoallergenic products

You can't believe everything you see on product labels.
Caroline Praderio/INSIDER

The INSIDER Summary:

Lots of products are marketed as "hypoallergenic."

But the term isn't backed up by any regulation, and some "hypoallergenic" products contain allergens.

Don't assume "hypoallergenic" means anything.

People with skin allergies probably trust that "hypoallergenic" products will be free of ingredients that cause itchy, painful allergic reactions. They might be surprised to find out that the term "hypoallergenic" is essentially meaningless.

You don't have to take our word for it — take the FDA's.

"There are no federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term 'hypoallergenic,'" the agency writes on its website. "The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean."

And it might not mean much.

In a 2015 study, for example, scientists tested 135 children's skin care products labeled as "hypoallergenic" and found that almost 90% of them contained at least one known skin allergen.

The FDA did try to set up regulation for the term back in the 1970s. The agency wanted to allow the use of "hypoallergenic" only if studies on humans showed that a product caused a significantly lower rate of skin reactions, compared to other products. But cosmetic companies fought the FDA in court and won. To this day, "hypoallergenic" is still unregulated, and manufacturers don't have to offer the FDA any proof to back up the claim.

This doesn't mean that all companies who use the term are trying to deceive you — they might voluntarily put their products through a barrage of high-quality allergy testing.But it's hard to know that when you're browsing store shelves in search of a new product. In the drugstore, when you see the term on two different products, it could mean two totally different things.

The bottom line: Don't assume that "hypoallergenic" products will never cause an allergic reaction. If you see a company using the marketing term, you might want to check their website or contact customer service and see if they have additional information on their interpretation of its meaning.

And if you think you're allergic to any cosmetic ingredients, find a dermatologist or an allergist in your area. These doctors can perform tests so you'll know which specific ingredients to watch out for.